First Christian Church Greensboro

We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

San Luis Potosi and Me

by

Back in 1964, my mother asked if I would be interested in a Mission/Study trip to Mexico with the United Christian Missionary Society. Since I intended to become a missionary, it seemed a no-brainer. Of course I wanted to go. Little did I realize I was probably the youngest of all the hopefuls, and we… Read More →

The Last Blessing

by

This coming Sunday’s sermon is built on the final beatitude in Matthew 5. A pertinent quote comes from Abuna Elias Chacour, the now retired 80-year-old archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church in Israel. He is a Palestinian Christian, and a Galilean, having been brought up in the vicinity of Jesus’s upbringing. He is also an… Read More →

The Evolution of Valentine’s Day

by

Dear friends, This week in ancient Rome, people celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The aim of this festival was to release energy for health and fertility. It honored the god called Lupercus, the protector of shepherds’ flocks against wolves, as well as the promoter of fertility among sheep. The festival began with the sacrifice of… Read More →

Young Pillars

by

Dear friends, In 1958, Charles Schulz, the creator of “Peanuts,” published a book compiled from cartoons he’d drawn for Youth magazine. “Harold” was the main character among several, who were involved in the life of a church somewhat typical of mainline white congregations in the Midwest in the late 1950s. Not surprisingly, the gentle humor… Read More →

Why I Care About Compassion Week

by

Dear friends, “Tradition,” the iconic song Harnick and Bock wrote for “Fiddler on the Roof,” is about roles in a Jewish family—Papa, Mama, Son, and Daughter. But for me, Tradition means a continuing pattern of beliefs or practice handed down from one generation to another. One tradition I treasure is the Week of Compassion. Surprisingly (to… Read More →

Do You Have the Time

by

Dear friends, Early in my first interim pastorate, I heard peevish comments about the length of sermons. These weren’t directed at me; I’d barely arrived. But the subject became somewhat of a joke as someone always seemed to be timing the length of the sermon. One Sunday, when my year there was nearly finished, the… Read More →

A Year of Transition

by

The month of January got its name from Janus, the Roman god with one face looking back to the past and another face looking toward the future. This god oversaw transitions, thresholds, endings and new beginnings. Although we pay no homage to ancient pagan deities, we can honor the One we know as holy by… Read More →

Midweek Message: At Least You Can Do That

by

by Phil Miller– “You can only do what you can only do, but at least you can do that!” This simple saying came my way from a young man when I, too, was young. We were neighbors. I was his pastor. He was an elder and taught a young adult Sunday class. If you’d known… Read More →